Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-01-12
DUCKS AND GEESE.
Some OF the Natural Peculiarities Of
the Game Now in Season.

the Game Now in Season.
The duck and goose shooting season
commenced with the past month. TO
all lntentS and purposes and the fine
birds that are now thronging the bays
and inletsall along the coast, every water
tank in the San Gabriel having its
quota of ducks and geese. The cause
OF this seemingly sudden appearance
OF the buds is the beginning of the faIl
migration, those and many other birds
leaving the North and rotreatlng to the
warmer countries of the South. They
fly, as rule, in flocks-the peculiar
triangular and other shapes beincsa-
mIliar to all. At this time thousands
are killed OF for the market, and the
family parties are often broken M be-
fore the long journey is ended.
Scientifically the ducks belong to the
family anatln9. the tree. river and sea
ducks being the familiar forms. There
are many Interesting facts about them
not generally known One of the most
beautiful is the wood duck, common in
many parts of the country and particg-
larly interesting from the peculiar Gaze
they seem to take of their young. Thay
often build in trees along the banks Of
streams, and when the young appear ii
would seem something of a puzzle how
10 get them safely to the water. as Of
all creatures young duck on land is
the most ungainly; but the mother
wOOdduck overcomes the difficulty 10y
taking the ducklings in her bill and ily-
ing with them, one by one, to the water.
The Canada goose Is said 10 have been
observed to do the same thing with its
young.
The ducks are all noted for their
beautiful plumage, many having rich
metallic hues and tints. Perhaps the
little Chinese Mandarin duck is us AZ
tractive as any, and in China it affords
fine shooting, though being hard 10 fol-
low, 4 friend of the writer who is in
business in the Celestial Empire, has
made some attempts TO introduce them
into this country, but as few spOrtsme1
would resist the temptation to shoot SO
Curious creature, IN all probability
they were soon killed OF.
But the shooting IS not strictly con
fined to these game birds, as with them
come many divers, cranes. herons and
killdeers, many of which are line ea.-
ing. An old hunter once told me when
We were crane shooting together out on
the Florida reef that he had seen
crane whose breast was Illuminated
with a pale phosphorescent light, so
that as the animal stood in the marsh
he light was reflected upon 1t, and
small fishes being attracted, fell victim
TO their curiosity. To show that he
was correct he pointed out the powder
down spot on the breast OF bird We
had; and certainly with its greasy, oily
nature and the yellow decomposed
features, the spot might well become
slightly luminous under certain condl-
tions. | think l have heard OF another
or parbaps two more instances or -
l.srid. nave never heard OF its being
seen By trained observer or naturalist
who was positive that the luminous
matter elimited from the powder-down-
patch was tie breast of the bird. II
would be interesting TO know if such
an occurrence has been observed on
his coast. Mr.. Harris. an associate of
Mr. Wakeiey, of Pasadena, and well
known collector OF birds, informed iae
that once when visiting herony on
the Maine coast he noticed numbers OF
pale lights moving about, which lie
thought belonged or were attached TO
the herons. These certainly were not
.irelies, being too large; and while he
could not testify that iJ was a "bird
light" it certainly looked very much
LII In a11 hn r
down patches of these birds examined
by the writer, they could well become
lumlnouS-ia fact, from their peculiar
nature it would be very strange If they
did not.
The most conspicuous birds now ly-
ing over are the sand hill cranes, large
docks being seen every day, and indi-
yiduals being shot from time to time
near the reservoirs. Their flight Is
very beautiful and much like that OF
the wild goose. one bird leading the
rest ranging off in regular order on
either side. Their flight as observed
from the Sierra Madre foothills Is q
literal flying down hill. The birds first
attain height of a mile or so above
the sea By flying round and round ut
tering loud cries that can be heard for
long distance at least three miles
with the wind. In the ascending
movement they present magnificent
appearance. As they turn, their white
silvery feathers catcl the sur ana
galaxy of stars is seen, scintilating for
"A moment and then disappearing, to re-
appear higher up. THIS circling is
continued until sufficient elevation is
attained, when they form In line and
shoot away. literally soaring "down
hill" covering perhaps five miles OF
country, perhaps more, before 1t is
necessary to rise aSain-and III these
repeated ascersions and slides they at
tain the land of promise, which to
them at present is warm country for
the winter months.